Clothespin



' Nov. 1s, 1952 J. RINNE 2,618,034

CLOTHESPIN Filed Dec. 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. JOHN R/NNE Nov. 18, 1952 J. RINNE CLOTHESPIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 195o Patented Nov. i8, 1952 a CLOTHESP1N v John Rinne, Huguenot, N. Y; 1 Y Application December 12, 1950, SerialNo. 200,441

2 Claims.

1 This invention relates to clips for securing articles together and to clamping devices for securing articles upon a rope from which the articles are suspended for airing or drying. The

main object of the invention is to provide a 5 clothes-line will invariably insert a finger beclamping device or clothes-pin that will not fractween the upper pair of prongs, thereby autoture or split in use and eifect a better clamping matically presenting thelower pair of prongs in or gripping o f an article upon a clothes-line. correct position for clamping application to an It is wellknown that in the use of ordinary article on the clothes-line. A clothes-pins having the usual pair of clamping m A further' advantage of this double-ended prongs, the shank of the pin is frequently split clothes-pin is that it'permitsa wider selection of when applying pressure to securely clamp articles Woodstock from which the pins are made in that upon aclothes-line, or that one prong is broken splitting or fracture in use being practically off at the shank, and that to reduce this coneliminated the grain characteristics of the wood tingency such pins have been provided with wire stock is not so important, and the pins may be. or metal bands at the juncture of the shank and made in any size, andthe cost of production `is prongs..l materially reduced.

I have found that this weakness can be over- Another feature of the invention is the ready come by providing a double-ended clamping 'deapplication of an adjustable 'or self-positioning vice or clothes-pin having a pair of` clamping locking ring to the clamping prongs of the doubleprongs at both ends of the device, instead of the ended clothes-pin. The ring is so formed and usual shank and one pair of clamping prongs as applied that when placed upon the pin it bein the ordinary clothes-pin, and forming the pair comes none-removable in use, and will autoof *prong slots in planes at an angle to each other, matically set itself in locking position through preferably at a right angle, with the depth of the the act of applying the clothes-pin to an article prong slots intersecting at the midsection of .the on the clothes-line. y pin. The intersecting and angular relation` of The improveddouble-ended clothes-pin and its the pair of prong slots perform a double function. stress transmission functioning and the locking First, d ue to the intersecting depth Yand anguringj are illustrated in the accompanying drawlar relation' of the prong slots the rigidity norings, in whichi l 1 mally present at the juncture of the clamping Figure 1A is an lelevation of the device showing prongs andpin shank of the conventional twothe clamping prong slots formed at right angles prong or single-ended clothes-pin Y is removed, to each other and the intersection and depth of and` increased resilience is obtained, so that as the slots at the midsection of the pin. 4 pressure is applied tothe pin when clamping Figure 2 is an elevation of the pin looking diarticles together or upon a clothes-line the strain rectly through one of the prong slots. caused by the outward flexing of the clamping Figure is a verticalsection `on the line 3-3 prongs is transmitted to the opposite pair of free of Figure 1. prongs causing them totakeup the stress and eX Figure' 4 is atop or end view of the pin showing away from `each other, thereby reducing the a rectangular cavity formed at the mid-section strain on the clamping prongs and practically 40 bythe intersection of the prong slots. obviatingthe fracturing or splitting strain at the Figure 5 is a cross-section of the pin at the midm'id'section. l n f section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating `iSecoiidly,this stress transmission enhances the the right angular and intersecting feature of the clamping function of the prongs withoutstrain prong slots and the four-point stress transmitat'thebase lof-the prongs, and theintersecting 45 ting mid-section.

feature"4 of the pair of prong slots increases -the gripping function due to the material of the articlefwhen vclamped on a clothes-line being forced into the free slot between the upper pair of-fprongs on 'opposite sides of the Vslot of the clamping prongs at a point near the inner end of clothes-1ilinetand consequent loosening of its grip on the material of the article being clamped.

A further' advantage of this double-ended clothes-pin is that it facilitates handling and adjustment into clamping position in that the user whenV grasping the pin for application to a Figures 6 and 7 showthe relative flexing of the two pairs of clamping prongs when the pin is vforced into clamping position on a clothesf line; the former showing in broken lines the normal position of the-lower clamping prongs before being spread outward to the' solid line position in the 'act of effectingthe Vclamping of an articleA upon a clothes-line, and the klatter showing in broken lines the-position of `the upper or free clamping prongs before the spreading oi the lower prongs, and in solid lines the outward ilexing of the free prongs due to the transmission of the stress from the clamping prongs.

Figures 8 to 11 are additional views of the clothes-pin showing in solid and broken lines the relative flexing of the two pairs of clamping prongs when pressure is applied to the ends of either pair of prongs.

Figure 12 is an elevation illustrating the clamping of an article to a clothes-line and showing the positions of the article and line relative to the inner end of the upper or free slot of the pin.

Figures 13 and 14 are sectional views on 4the lines I3 I3 and I4 I4 of Figure 12 illustrating the bulging of the material of the article into the upper or free prong slot of the pin,

Figures 15, 16 and 17 illustrate the doubleended clothes-pin provided with the adjustable locking ring for the clamping prongs.

Figures 18 and` 19 are top. and sectional views, respectively, on the lines [B IB and ISI-I9 of Figure 16.

Figures 20 and 21 are Views similar to Figures 12 and 13 illustrating the functioning of the adjustable locking ring, and

Figure 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional View. on the line 22-22 of Figure 2,0.

Referring to the drawings, the body of the clothes-pin is illustrated asv made from av single piece of round wood stock and slotted from opposite ends to form prong slots l and 2. These slots are of uniform width at. approximately the inner half of the depth ofv the slot as shown at 3 and curve or taper outward as, shown at I to facilitate application to a clothes-line. rIfhe in. ner ends of the slots are preferably rounded as shown at to form fillets and facilitate gripping of the material on a clothes-line. The depth of the slots I 2 which are preferably formed in planes at right angles to each other as seen in Figure 1, is such as to intersect for approximately one-half of their depth at the mid-section of the pin, and form two pairs of clamping prongs 6 and 'I projecting in opposite directions in planes at right angles to each other.

This construction results in a rectangular cavity 8 at the mid-section of the pin as seen in Figure 4 and which cavity extends the length of the prong slots I 2 between the slots ends 5Y and provides four quarter-round sections 9 9 between the two pairs of clamping prongs 6 'I at the mid-section of the pin as illustrated in- Figure 5 and as seen in Figure 1 each adjacent pair of sections 9 9 extend between. three of the clamping prongs of the pin. This four-point connection between the two pairs of clamping prongs provides the resilience which relieves the strain on the prongs and transmits the stress from one pair of prongs to the other pair as illustrated in Figures 6 to 11, and thereby: overcomes the liability to fracture or splitting of the pin.

The transmission of the stress from one pairof clamping prongs to the other is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, Where the normal positions of the prongs are shown in broken lines;y Figure 6 showing in solid lines the outwardly exed po,- sition of the lower or clamping prongs 6 6 when applied in use to a clothes-line, and the resul: tant or corresponding' outward flexing of the upper or free prongs 'I 'I- as seen in Figure 7 due to the transmission of stresses from 6 6 through connections 9 9. The action is further illustrated in FiguresA 8V to, 11where, in Figures 8 and 9 the pinching of the prongs 6 from the normal position shown in broken lines in Figure 8 to the solid line position results in the corresponding inward flexing of the prongs 'I from the broken line position to the solid line position of Figure 9. In Figures 10 and 11 the opposite and an additional or torsional eect is illustrated, where 4the outward flexing of the prongs 6 from the solid line position to the broken line position, as occurs when applying the, pin to a clothes-line, effects the outward flexing of the prongs l shown by broken lines, and a simultaneous lateral ilexing of both pairs of prongs as indicated by the dotted lines I0 in Figures l0 and 11 due to the torsional effect created in pin sections 9 9 by the difference in strain on the individual prongs and consequent difference in stress transmission and thereby avoiding fracture.

In Figures 12 to 14 the bulging of the material II into the upper or free prong slot 2 when clamped to a clothes-line I2 is shown at. I3.l3. From the illustration in Figure 13 it, will be observed that when the. clothes-pin is in clamping position the bulging of the material II into the prong slot on opposite sides of the clothes-line will effect a gripping under the line as seen in Figure 13, thereby preventing the slipping or springing of the pin upward relative to the clothes-line and material, and insure a rm grip, and in Figure 1,4 it will be observed that the bulging of the material at I3 I3 into the prong slot 2 on opposite sides of. the prong slot I prevents lateral slipping` of the pin, and thereby avoiding the looseningl of the grippingl action due to such slipping.

The double-endedv or shankless clothes-.pin permits the application of an adjustable and self,- positioning locking ring as shown in Figures. 15

to 22. This ring may be of any suitable formV adapted to slide freely on the prongs 6 and 'I'. The preferred form is a rectangular disk I4 made of a plastic material and punched from sheet stock with a circular hole I5l of a diameter to permit the disk to slide freely on. theV clamping prongs, and four short lugsV I6 projecting at dia.- metrically opposite points which are adapted to freely enter the prong, slots I and 2. To apply the locking ring to the clothes-pin. the disk. of` plastic material is heated to cause it to expand and thereby increase the, diameter of. thehole4 I5 suiiliciently to allow the lugs to slip. over the ends of the clamping prongs when one pair of prongs are pinched as in Figure 20, and when the lugs I6 are opposite the prong slots, Iv and 2 there,-v lease of pressure on the prongs will cause the lugs to enter the slots, whereupon onY contraction of the disk in cooling, thehole I5 will decrease to its original, diameter and lugsA IG will projecty entirely within the prong slots thus retaining the locking ring permanently on tl'le'pinI as seen in Figures 17, 1.8 and 1.9.

In use when the clothes-.pin is applied to` anA article II on a clothes-line I2, the clamping prongs 6 6 are forced downward into clampne position and the free prongs 'I arev pinched-to.- ward each other as indicatedin Figure 2li-Whereupon the locking ring will slideA freely: downward to a point where the spread of the clamping prongs due to the thickness of the article and line I2 will stop the disk, and then increased clamping effect may be obtained by pressing the; locking ring firmly upon the; clamping prongs; This method of securing increased clamping effect is advantageous since it does not; require excessive downward pressurev on. the.l pin to obtain the desired clamping, and thereby avoiding possible damage to the material being clamped, and reduces the strain on the clamping prongs. This method of obtaining the desired clamping effect is of particular advantage in clamping sheer fabrics and laces.

It will be noted that this improved doubleended clothes-pin is made from round stock as shown in Figures 4 and 5 not only in the conventional wood form, but may With equal advantage be made of rust-proof metal, plastic or other suitable materials. A pin made of round stock of wood or other materials is preferred over the square or angular stock for the reason that such stock, especially at the mid-sections 9-9 of the pin, does not alford the torsional effect and the same degree of resilience and stress transmission resulting from the use of round stock. It will also be understood that while the device is specically described and shown as a clothespin, the device with various widths of prong slots may be employed for various other purposes.

What I claim is:

1. A double-ended clothes pin made of stock round in cross-section with a pair of clamping prongs at both ends of the pin, prong slots formed in planes at a right angle to each other and intersecting at the mid-section of the pin for a length equal approximately to one-half the depth of the prong slots and forming at the mid-section of the pin a cavity and four quarter-round stress transmitting sections, and each adjacent pair of such stress transmitting sections extending between three clamping prongs of the pin, whereby stresses caused by the contraction or expanriphery of the disk adapted to project from oppol site sides into the clamping slots for retaining the disk on the pin and adapted to move automatically downward on the pin upon contraction of the upper pair of clamping prongs.

JOHN RINNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 119,311 Burling Sept. 26, 1871 643,533 Prime Feb. 13, 1900 '718,794 Reimard J an. 20, 1903 955,219 Spinney Apr. 19, 1910 1,395,424 Justus Nov. 1, 1921 1,580,824 .Gothier Apr. 13, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 123,444 Australia Jan. 29, 1947 67,407 Denmark Aug. 16,1948 

